SOUTH BEND – Brian Kelly can already see a difference in Brandon Wimbush since last season. Notre Dame has only had five spring practices and has 10 more to go, but the second-year quarterback seems to be moving in a positive direction following an inconsistent rookie season, which included a benching in the Citrus Bowl.

“I’ve seen Brandon show a lot more confidence,” Kelly said. “There’s definitely a difference in the way he’s performing at that position compared to last year. So if that continues to trend, that puts us in a really good position at quarterback.”

Kelly is likely a long way from naming a starting quarterback for 2018 though. At this time last year, Wimbush had the position locked up. Once DeShone Kizer declared for the NFL draft, the job essentially automatically went to Wimbush, who was the natural successor. Then he sputtered with accuracy and consistency in his first season and the position is now open.

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Brandon Wimbush and Ian Book are battling out to see who will be the Fighting Irish's starting QB in the fall.

The battle this spring is between Wimbush and Ian Book, who led Notre Dame to a 21-17 win over LSU on New Year’s Day. Both quarterbacks are getting about equal reps in practice — it's close to 50-50 — and both are running with the first and second teams, depending on who has the hot hand that day. Rising sophomore Avery Davis is taking snaps too, and four-star dual threat quarterback Phil Jurkovec is expected to push into the competition once he arrives on campus this summer.

After Saturday’s practice, Kelly explained what qualities his future starter must show to earn the job full-time.

“Obviously there was such inconsistent performance at that position (last year),” Kelly said. “We were up and down, we didn’t establish a consistent play day in and day out. I think that’s going to be the separation. That person who can continue to show every single day that these are the base fundamentals of the position that I’m going to bring with me, and build that consistency, I think that’s the key word. Consistency.”

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The Notre Dame QB had and up and down season a year ago.
Laken Litman/IndyStar

To recap, Notre Dame was patient with Wimbush in his first year. He had to quickly learn and adapt to a new playbook under first-year offensive coordinator Chip Long. In 12 games, Wimbush completed less than 50 percent of his passes and earned a 121.4 passer rating, ranking him 87th nationally, and turned the ball over late in the season. He struggled with his accuracy and often relied on his feet to win games. Wimbush was yanked from the Citrus Bowl in the second quarter after completing 3-of-8 passes for 52 yards and watched from the sideline as Book found Miles Boykin for a heroic, game-winning 55-yard touchdown.

For all the frustration that came in the passing game, however, Notre Dame won 10 games after going 4-8 the previous season.

Now as the Fighting Irish continue to build on the offense in the second year under Long, competition is brewing. But both players will tell you it’s healthy.

“It pushes Ian and I and other quarterbacks to be better,” Wimbush said.

“It’s really fun,” Book added. “I think Brandon would say the same thing. We push each other, I push him and he pushes me. We’re both getting better from it.”

Kelly hasn't seen separation yet. On Saturday though, he pointed out a few examples where he’s noticed Wimbush improve.

“I’d say his drop is consistent, which allows him to get the ball out timely,” Kelly said. “He was late on a lot of throws last year and consequently put himself in bad positions. His accuracy is better, especially on some of the shorter throws.

Ian Book came in in relief of Brandon Wimbush in the Citrus Bowl and led the Irish to victory.(Photo: Matt Stamey-USA TODAY Sports)

“But I think if I would highlight one thing, he’s cleaned up his footwork, which has given him a lot more confidence in getting the ball out on time.”

Footwork was a popular topic last year since many of Wimbush’s issues stemmed from that. The quarterback explained after practice Saturday what makes that particular component critical to success in the passing game.

“Because your feet time up with your eyes and your feet time up everything else, every part of your motion,” he said. “So if your feet are in line and on time and quick, everything else would be accelerated a little bit and you’ll be in rhythm.”

There likely won't be any grand declarations about a starting quarterback anytime soon. It’s still early — Notre Dame’s season opener against Michigan is on Sept. 1 — and this is probably a story line that will bleed into fall camp. Unless of course one QB can get Kelly to describe him with that key work: Consistent.